Dick Durbin on Government Transparency

Public disputes concerning what governments and public bodies disclose about their own conduct, data and records, including the completeness, timing and accuracy of what they publish.

How we classify topics

Counts show individual statements. They do not assign an overall position.

Statement history

4 statements on this page. Dates: April 8, 2025 to October 15, 2026

4 matching statements. Dates: April 8, 2025 to October 15, 2026

4 published statements. Dates: April 8, 2025 to October 15, 2026

Condemned

4 published statements. Dates: April 8, 2025 to October 15, 2026

4 statements on this page. Dates: April 8, 2025 to October 15, 2026

Dick Durbin

Role at the time: U.S. senator from Illinois; signatory to the joint October 15 letter

October 15, 2026Condemned

Statement summary

Dick Durbin signed a joint letter with eight other senators requesting an inspector-general investigation into reported Starshield restrictions and intelligence-warning disruptions in Ukraine. The letter questions Defense Department oversight and asks whether government or contractor decisions contributed.

“Any restrictions on these capabilities, particularly without advance notification, raise serious questions about the Department of Defense’s contractual oversight and its responsibility to ensure continuity of essential services.”

Read the official statementNine senators request an investigation of Ukraine communications disruptionsPages 1-2: concerns and investigation requests; page 3: nine signatures

The signed letter asks the Department of Defense inspector general to investigate satellite-service restrictions and, separately, intelligence-sharing and warning disruptions. It asks whether the disruptions were connected rather than establishing a common cause.

Why we used this label

The reference point is the restriction and its oversight. The signers criticize the lack of notice and question the Department of Defense response. Their investigation request leaves the cause and responsible officials unresolved.

Read statement Full case: Who bears responsibility for Ukraine's October 2026 Starshield restrictions?

Dick Durbin

Role at the time: U.S. Senator from Illinois, in a post on X

October 9, 2026Condemned

Statement summary

Sen. Dick Durbin said public executions have no place in a democracy and that the nation cannot stoop to the level of the people it seeks to punish.

“Public executions have no place in a democracy.”

Read the original postDick Durbin's post on the plan to livestream Nidal Hasan's execution (X post) · Dick DurbinFull post, Oct. 9, 2026, 12:45 p.m. EDT.

Dick Durbin's own post on an official account.

Why we used this label

The case asks whether Pete Hegseth should livestream Nidal Hasan's execution; it concerns the broadcast proposal, not Hasan's conviction or capital punishment. Durbin says "Public executions have no place in a democracy" in response to the livestream plan. That opposes the broadcast, so we labeled it Condemned. The closest competing label is Mixed or conditional; it loses because the post contains no support for the plan.

Read statement Full case: Should Pete Hegseth livestream Nidal Hasan's execution?

Dick Durbin

Role at the time: Senate Judiciary Committee ranking member, writing with committee Democrats

October 7, 2026Condemned

Statement summary

Durbin asks Grassley to provide records and apologize to Smith on the committee's behalf. The letter calls the perjury accusations false.

“apologize to Mr. Smith on behalf of the Committee for the unacceptable personal attacks and false accusations of perjury”

Read the official statementSenate Judiciary Democrats request committee records and an apology to Jack SmithPages 1-2, opening request for an apology and discussion of Schmitt's basketball-game accusation; page 3, signatures.

The letter alleges violations of Senate records-access rules and criticizes accusations made during the September 29 hearing. Its assertions are the signers' position.

Archived copy

Why we used this label

The letter describes the attacks as unacceptable and the accusations as false, expressing condemnation of Schmitt's questioning.

Read statement Full case: Did Jack Smith Attend the Warriors-Hawks Game Eric Schmitt Asked About?

Dick Durbin

Role at the time: U.S. senator and Senate Judiciary Committee ranking member

April 8, 2025Condemned

Statement summary

Durbin criticizes the prospect of DOGE avoiding FOIA while exercising power to eliminate federal agencies. He asks what motivates its actions and what it should disclose to the public.

“I worry about where this is headed, if an agency with the power to eliminate Federal agencies is not subject to FOIA. What is motivating these people? What activities are they engaged in? What disclosures should they make to the American public?”

Read the original textSenate Judiciary hearing on FOIA and DOGE transparencyApril 8, 2025 hearing; Durbin opening and his exchange with Margaret Kwoka

Durbin criticizes DOGE's claim that FOIA does not apply. Kwoka explains the independent-authority test and the preliminary nature of the court ruling.

Archived copy

Why we used this label

The case concerns the government's effort to keep DOGE outside FOIA and resist discovery into its authority. Durbin criticizes exempting an office with such power from public-records accountability.

Read statement Full case: Supreme Court agrees to review court-ordered discovery into whether DOGE is subject to FOIA